Master Of My Fate
Exciting young stallion, Master Of My Fate, has made an eye catching start to his stud career, with his first foals receiving rave reviews around the country. However, few, if any, of Master Of My Fate’s first crop are better bred than this filly, who recently arrived at the Ambiance Stud.
Out of the Northern Guest mare and stellar producer, Majestic Guest, the filly is a three-parts sister to world class sprinter, J J The Jet Plane. Both “JJ” and Master Of My Fate are sons of Horse Of The Year and seven times champion South African sire, Jet Master.
Famous sibling
J J The Jet Plane
J J The Jet Plane, who was purchased for a mere R70 000 at the 2006 National 2YO Sale, won 15 races in four different countries and earned three Equus Awards – Champion Sprinter in both 2008 and 2010, he was also named South Africa’s Equus Champion Older Male in 2010. Arguably his biggest win came when accounting for the outstanding international sprinters Rocket Man, Sacred Kingdom, Ortensia, Kingsgate Native and Lucky Nine in the 2010 Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint. Other major sprint wins notched up by the son of Jet Master included Dubai’s Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint and the South African Gr1 Gold Horse Casino Sprint (twice), J J is now enjoying his well-earned retirement in KZN, where he looks an absolute picture.
Well-related
However, the much loved “JJ” was not the only high class performer out of Majestic Guest. The latter (who, at 23, will now be retired by Dr Thomson) is also dam of Gr3 King’s Cup winner, Jet Legend (a full brother to J J The Jet Plane), as well as the stakes placed fillies, Guest Among Men (3rd Starling Stakes), Majestic Jet (2nd Starling Stakes) and Pleasure Jet.
Reproductive difficulties
Ambiance Stud’s star filly
Dr Marianne Thomson, who now owns the mare, had this to say about Majestic Guest: “She had started pooling urine in her vagina, which is a problem experienced by some older mares as they start “sagging “ with age. This sets up a cascade of uterine infections and prevents conception or the continuation of a pregnancy.”
“Like Majestic Guest, these mares are often the ones still at stud in advanced age, mainly because they produced great horses. Corrective surgery is difficult, prone to failure and needs lots of patience from surgeon and owner. Only mares ‘civilized’ enough to tolerate epidural anaesthesia and willing to stand for an hour in a crush to undergo reconstruction of the urethral outlet, can be considered. Majestic Guest is one of those mares whose pleasant temperament made her a good candidate.”
Collaborative effort
Patricia and Henry Devine
Mrs Patricia Devine gave the mare to Marianne Thomson and Varsfontein gave a service to Master Of My Fate when they were told what was being attempted.
The old mare has been pampered, sleeping in a blanket, under an infrared lamp all winter. Just ten days before she foaled she had a setback when her close companion, Jazz Champion, aged 22, (dam of Almah, Zamboma, Zebulon and Zambucca) passed away very quietly from an interior haemorrhage 4 days before her due date earlier this month. The arrival of this filly has however perked up Majestic Guest.
The Arch effect
Highly successful sire, Arch, son of Kris S has enjoyed yet another notable year in 2015. His runners this year include the Gr1 Shadwell Turf Mile hero, Grand Arch, as well as Gr3 Iowa Derby winner, Bent On Bourbon. However, this year it has been the deeds of Arch as a sire of sires and broodmare sire that have placed the former Gr1 Super Derby winner in the spotlight. His champion son, Blame, consolidated a solid start to his stud career by ending the season in eighth place on North America’s Leading 2nd Crop Sires Log. The former Gr1 Breeders Cup Classic winner, who hails from the same family as legendary sires Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells, has been represented by five stakes winners in 2015 – including the graded winners March, Far From Over and Onus.
Another highly promising Arch son at stud is Gr1 Arkansas Derby winner, Archarcharch, who retired to stud for a fee of $10 000. He has made a smart start at stud, with his first 2yo runners including ten winners, among them the Gr3 winner, Towes On Ice.
Broodmare sire
Remarkably, Arch’s influence does not end here. He is also broodmare sire of North America’s hottest young sire and former Champion 2YO, Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), whose first 2YO runners include an impressive seven individual stakes winners. Currently both the Leading Sire of 2YOS and Leading First Crop Sire, Uncle Mo’s first crop includes dual Gr1 winner, and probable US Champion 2YO Nyquist, and Gr1 Alciabiades Stakes heroine, Gomo. Uncle Mo’s first crop this year has already earned more than $3 million, while runner up, Twirling Candy’s first runners have just under $1 million to their credit.
Arch, whose dam is very closely related to now deceased sire legend, Green Desert, has also had quite an impact in South Africa. From just a handful of runners, Arch’s offspring include former champion and multiple Gr1 winner, Overarching, and Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner, Arch Mistress.
Sire of Gr1 winners on dirt and turf alike, Arch has currently more than 50 stakes winners (6% stakes winners to foals) to his credit.
